Cotton-harvesting machine.



No. 798,651. A PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. J. F. APPLEBY.

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1905.

10 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Zz a j No. 798,651. PATENTBD SEPT. 5, 1905. J. F. APPLEBY.

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. as. 1905.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1905.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

J. P. APPLEBY.

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1905' 10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

J. F. APPLEBY.

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1905.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

No- 798,65l, PATENTED SEPT. 5 1905. J. F. APPLEBY.

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum) JAR. as. 1905.

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PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

J. F. APPLE-BY. COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0117.23, 1905.

10 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

monzw =1v GRAHAM co. Puma-macaw IERS. wmnmcwu n g No. 798,651. PATENTEDSEPT. 5, 1905. J. F. APPLEBY.

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1905.

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No. 798,651. PATENTBD SEPT. 5, 1905. J. P. APPLEBY.

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23.1905.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

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(' ya 2 [Ill/W229)!" Z /6LZZ No. 798,651. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

J. P. APPLBBY.

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1905. 7

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. AZPILEBY, OF OIlIOAhO, ILLINOIS, ASSIIINOR TO DIXIE (OTlON OFSOUTH DAKO'IA.

l )A liOTA, COR IO RATION COTTON-HARVESTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed January 23, 1905. Serial No. 242,403.

To Ir/Iomif 'HMI/Z/ concern/:-

Be it known that I, Jony F. AIILNBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

5 have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cotton-llarvesting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part 10 of this specilication.

ILY invention relates to cotton picking or harvesting machines, and hasfor its general object the provision of structural elements thereofcooperating to produce a machine of .[5 the type named that will be freeof defects hitherto existing in the many machines designed for thepurpose of harvesting cotton, the object of my invention having beenrealized in a successful embodimentof the invention practically operatedin the lields.

A further object of my invention is to produce a machine of thecharacter described that not only performs well its functions, but ismost compact and of very simple construction,

sive to build and materially reducing its parts, so that the machinewill not readily be gotten out of order.

(ienerally speaking, the preferred embodiment of my invention isrealized in a machine having desirably two tractionavheels, aninverter.l-Ushaped axle upon which said wheels rotate, an elevatormounted to ride or slide upon the vertical portions of the U-shapedaxle. cotton picking and stripping mechanism, later more specifically tobe referred to, mounted within the elevator, so that the position of thepicking mechanism with reference to the cotton-plants may be regulated,and elevating mechanism serving by its oper ation to elevate and lowerthe elevator and its mechanism. the traction portion of the machine, thepicking mechanism and the auxiliary mechanism also carried by theelevator and including stripping mechanism and preferably a cleaner thatserves to remove any cotton that tends to adhere to the stripper.Hand-operated cranks are employed for effecting the move- 1 ment of theelevator, and inasmuch as the gearing is preferably interposed betweenboth traction-wheels and the picking and associate mechanism carried bythe elevator a differmaking the machine comparatively inexpen- Gearingis interposed between,

ential gear is employed to unite the sections forming the shaft fromwhich the mechanism of the machine is driven, said shaft being common tothe gearing operated by both traction-wheels. The machine of myinvention preferably employs picking-lingers that are thrust into andwitlnlrawn from the cottonplants in vertical directions, and in orderthat the branches of the cotton-plants may properly be assembled topermit the lingers to gather the cotton thoroughly from the plants agrate is employed whose bars extend longitudinally of the machine, thespaces between the bars lying in the same vertical planes with thepicking-lingers, which thus pass between the bars into contact with thecotton. The spaccbetwcen the bars is preferably comparatively widewitlrrespcct to the picking-lingers, so that as these lingers arewithdrawn into the elevator above the bars the cotton will notprematurely be stripped therefrom.

A very important feature of the invention resides in the provision of anapron at the front of the machine which serves to depress thecotton-bushes, so that said bushes will be easily ridden over by thegrate-bars.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the provision ofa skirt placed alongside of and extending below the grate-bars andserving to gather the bushes in sidewise, the skirt or gathercr and theapron cooperating to localize the bushes directly beneath thegrate-bars, so that all parts of the bushes in a row being traveled overby the machine will be within range of the picking-lingers. The forwardend of the skirt is suitably flared and formed properly to gather thebushes beneath the apron between the sides of the skirt. There areaplurality of horizontal rows of picking-lingers, the picking-lingers ofeach row projecting through the walls of columns that are horizontallyplaced, each column being mounted between circular rotating end plates,so that the lingers are bodily rotated, though I do. not wish to belimited to this characteristic of the preferred form of my improvedmachine. Each column desirably has a shaft passing longitudinallytherethrough, each of said shafts being provided with bevelgcars thatengage with corresponding gears upon the ends or bases of thepicking-lingers that project into the columns to causesaidpicking-fingers to rotate about their own axes.

. rotation just after leaving the plants.

The shafts passing through the columns are operated from the generaltransmission-gear in a manner to be described.

In order that a high rate of speed of the picking-fingers about theirown axes may be secured, I adopt a gearing whereby the desired speed maybe imparted to the fingers without unduly enlarging tlieniain gearelement that directly causes the rotation of the fingers. This gearingincludes a segmental rack concentric with the plates that support thecolumns, but preferably fixed with respect to the elevator. Pinionspreferably equal to half the number of columns and journaled in one ofthe end plates are adapted for driving connection with this segmentalrack, and two smaller pinions are in driving connection with each of thefirst aforesaid pinions. The first aforesaid pinions that are adaptedfor driving connection with the segmental rack are preferably broughtinto this relation with the segmental rack through the agency of smallerpinions adapted to mesh with the segmental rack and fixed with respectto the pinions that are in mesh with the pinions upon the ends of thecolumns. In other words, this gearing preferably comprises a segmentalrack, small pinions equal in number to half the columns adapted to meshtherewith, a larger pinion fixed with respect to each of said smallpinions, and a small pinion' fixed with respect to each column-shaft,said latter small pinions meshing with the aforesaid larger pinions,each larger pinion thus preferably being in driving connection with twocolumn-shafts. It is preferable to have the picking-fingers begin theirrotation about their own axes just before they enter the plants and tocease such For this purpose the segmental rack is supplemented by adelay-gear, desirably in the form of a plate having a smooth peripheralrunningsurface that is concentric with the segmental. gear and uponwhich blocks ride, which blocks are fixed with respect to the pinionsthat engage the segmental gear.

As hitherto stated, the machine preferably has only two traction-wheels,which structural feature is made to cooperate with an adjustingmechanism, whereby the angle of the grate-bars with respect to theground may be regulated, so that the influence of the apron, skirt, andgrate-bars upon the bushes may be regulated. This adjustment preferablyresides in a pin-and-slot connection between the elevator and the tongueor shafts of the machine, a tongue being preferably employed so that twohorses may be used, the tongue being preferably pivoted to the elevatorto permit of the adjustment desired.

Another very important feature of my invention, which has enabled me tosuccessfully operate the machine in the fields, resides in the provisionof an improved form of stripper.

Hitherto strippers of two general classes have been employed, thestrippers of one class being in the form of rotating brushes, designedto pass over the cotton-picking fingers and remove therefrom the cotton,which thereafter was to be passed to a receptacle. Obviously this formof stripper is impracticable, because of the difficulty in removing thecot ton therefrom and passing the same to the re ceptacle. Otherobjections to this form of stripper are also apparent to those skilledin this art. The other general type of strippers comprisedstationarily-mounted fingers or rakes between which the picking-fingerswould be drawn. The advantage of this form of stripper over thebrush-strippers resided tively smooth surfaces to the cotton-pickingfingers. There were many serious objections, however, to the stripper ofthis general second class, which rendered it difficult to operatecontinuously a machine in the fields. The objections to this class ofstrippers were inherent because of their passiveness, it being obviousthat the picking-fingers as they passed between the stripping-fingerswould assume a variety of angles with respect to the strippingfingers,causing an improper and incomplete removal of the cotton, a gathering ofthe same, and clogging of the Working parts of the machine, which evilresults are more apparent when witnessed than described.

To cure the defects hitherto existing in the stripping mechanism, Iemploy strippers that have comparatively smooth cleaning-surfaces andwhich are moved by the gearing of the machine to actuate the strippersat proper angles with respect to the picking-fingers, whereby the cottonis not only properly removed from the picking-fingers, but anaccumulation thereof is prevented, as the strippers in their'movementnot only serve to free the cotton from the picking-fingers, but also toconvey the same toward asuitable receptacle,

this conveying operation being avery important one, and one obviouslythat was not present with the stationarily-disposed strippingfingers,for gravity was relied upon in connection with the stationarystripping-fingers to remove the cotton from the same.

In order that the stripping mechanism may most properly perform thedouble function of stripping the picking-fingers and conveying thecotton away therefrom, I cause the said stripping mechanism to rotateabout an axis, whereby the said stripping mechanism first strips thecotton-picking fingers and conveys the cotton away therefrom as thestripping operation continues. The most successful embodiment of thisfeature of my invention that I have produced is found in strippingmechanism in the form of a slotted cylinder, into the slots of which thecotton-picking fingers project. There may, if desired, be

provided a cleaner that has teeth working within the slots of the saidstripping-cylimler, 1 so as to remove any cotton from the slots that maybecome lodged and remain therein. The stripping-cyliinler preferablyformed of a number of toothed disks. the teeth of which are preferablyalined, and the edges of the teeth initially presented to thepicking-lingers are preferably so sloped that they will present a properangle to the picking-lingers as the l stripping operation continues. Thecotton is gathered within the pockets in the strip- 1 ping-cylinder thatare formed between the picking-faces of the teeth and the rear faces ofthe teeth forward of the picking-faces. which pockets serve to carry thecotton away 1 from the picking-lingers and to discharge the same into acottonreceptacle. l

\Yhile I. prefer to employ stripping mechanism presenting comparativelysmooth surfaces to the cotton-picking lingers. and by smooth surfaces 1mean surfaces unprovided with barbs or bristles, there are structuralfeatures of my invention that need not be limited to such a physicalcharacteristic.

1 will explain my invention more fully by reference to theaccompanyingdrawings, illus- 1 trating the preferred embodiment thereof,in which Figure l a side view of the machine as it might appear in thefield. Fig. 2 is a view from the other side of the machine, certainparts unessential to the invention being omit' 3 ted. Fig. alongitudinal sectional view of the machine as it appears in Fig. 2. Fig.

Fig. 5 is l 4: is a plan view ot the grate-bars. a view on a large scaleof the picking, stripi ping, and cleaning mechanism, other associl l Iate parts of the machine being also illustrated. Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of the end of the picking-cylinder, showing the cam mechanismfor determinii'ig the angles in which the picking-lingers are to lie.Fig. T is a view j from the other side of the picking-cylinder. showingthe gearing for controlling the rotation of the picking-lingers. Fig. ois a view 1 in elevation from the front of the machine of l thepicking-cylinder. parts of the mechanism of said cylinder being omittedfor the sake of clearness. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the mechanismas it appears in Fig. 8, on a plane i coincident with the axis ofrotation of the picking-cylinder. Fig. 10 is a front view of l themachine. Fig. 11 is a vertical view of i the machine in cross-sectiontaken on a plane coincidentwiththeaxeso'fthetraction-wheels. Fig. 12 isa plan view of the machine. Fig. l3 is a sectional view showing acolumn, its l shaft, and the bases of the picking-lingers in gear withsaid shaft. Fig. H is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1?).Fig. l?) is a sectional end view on line H u of Fig. ll. Fig. it) is anend view of the structure illustrated in Fig. ll. Fig. 17 is a rearelevation of the machine. Fig. 1b is an elevation indil i l l eating theconnection of the elevator with the U-shaped axle of the machine. Fig.illustrates the stem that carries the chain-tightener entering into theconstruction of the machine. Fig. 20 is a plan view of thepicking-cylinder, the stripper, the cleaner, and parts immediatelyassociated therewith. Fig. 21 is :1 diagrammatic view illustrating oneset of pinions in driving engagement with a segmental rack and anotherset of pinions in locking engagement with the delay-gear. Fig. 22indicates a clutch for the stripper.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference thrrmghontthe dill'erent ligures.

The picking, stripping, and cleaning mechanism hereinafter to beparticularly spocilied is mounted within an elevator or housing 1,

that desirably has a porch 2, upon which a basket 3, that is to receivethe picked cotton, is placed. A curtain 3' may be used to prevent thecotton from being thrown beyond the basket. Another porch it may carryanother basket so that two baskets may be tilled on each journey of themachine. A

. skirt or gatherer formed in two sides 6 (5 is provided atthe base oftheelevator for the purpose of laterally gathering the cotton-bushes tobe within range of the picking mechanism to be described. An apron T ismounted at the front of the machine a sullicient distance above thebottom edges of the skirt or gatherer to depress the bushes to a uniformlevel, and a substantially horizontal grate 8, com- 1 posed oflongitudinally-disposed bars, is continued from the lower margin of theapron 7 rearwardly, so that the level to which the bushes have beendepressed may be maintained during the picking operation. A, single pairof traction-wheels 9 10 is desirably only employed, upon which theelevator is mounted in a manner to be hereinafter set forth.

I desirably provide means whereby the ani gle at which the grate 8desired may be regulated, to which end I pivot the tongue 11 upon theelevator and provide a slotand-bolt connection 12 13 between the tongueand a forwardly and upwardly projecting brace H, forming a part of theelevatorstructure. By adjustment ellected at 12 1;.) the angle of thetongue 11 with respect to the elevator may be regulated, so that whenthe horses are harnessed to the machine the desired angleof the grate bwith respect to the ground maybe approximately u'iaintained. In orderthat the elevator. together with the grate S, the picking mechanism, andother associate parts, may be raised and lowered, 1 preferably employthe mechanism now to be described. The wheels 9 11) are mounted upon aU-shaped axle 15, the U of the axle being inverted, all as seen mostclearly in Fig. 11. Guides 16 16 are fixed with respect to the sidewalls 17 17 of the. elevator by the brace 18 and connec tion 19.(Illustrated most clearly in Fig. 18.) By vertical movement of theseguides upon the vertical parts of the U-shaped axle the elevator and themechanism carried thereby are elevated or lowered. To this end each ofthe guides 16 is provided with an extended fork 20, havingdownwardly-extending hooks to engage trunnion-lugs 21, projecting fromthe sleeve 22, having threaded engagement with a threaded shaft 23, eachguide 16 being thus associated with elements 20, 21, 22, and 23. Eachshaft 23 passes through bearings 24, mounted upon the upper horizontalstretch of the axle15, the mounting of bearings 24 being desirably hadwith the aid of the channeliron 25 directly secured to the axle, hookedshelves 26 being secured to the upper horizontal side of thechannel-iron, each hooked shelf carrying a bearing 24, the hook uponeach shelf 26 and the shaft passing through the said shelf having thechannel-iron disposed between the same, whereby the mounting of eachshelf 26 is made secure. The upper end of each shaft 23 carries asprocketwheel 27, said sprocket-wheels being united by a sprocket-chain28, a crank 29 having separable connection with one of thesesprocketwheels,.whereby the chain may be driven and both of the shafts23 rotated to effect vertical movement of the guides 16, whereby theelevator may be raised or lowered, as required. The picking, stripping,and cleaning mechanism is operated from a main shaft 30, that is drivenby the sprocket-gears 31, located at its outer ends and rotated by thesprocket-chains 32, operated by the sprocket-wheels 33, there being onesuch sprocket-wheel 33 directly coupled and coaxial with eachtraction-wheel.

In order that the single shaft may be in driven connection with bothtraction-wheels and at the same time permit one of the traction-wheelsto move faster than the other, as in making turns, the said shaft 30 ismade in sections united by a differential gear 34.

A third sprocket-wheel 35 may constitute the frame that carries thegears 36, that form component parts of the gearing 34, in a manner wellunderstood by those skilled in the art, for it is by such an arrangementthat said sprocket-wheel 35 maybe rotated through the agency of bothsections of the shaft 30, whether said sections are rotating at the sameor different speeds. The sprocket-wheel 35 drives asprocket-chain 37,that in turn rotates a sprocket-gear 38, which directly causes theoperation of the picking, stripping, and cleaning mechanism, as will bedescribed.

In order that the chain 37 may be sufliciently taut irrespective of thevertical position of the elevator, I provide a sprocketwheel 39 and asheave 39, both mounted upon the bracket 40, that serve to take up theslack, the upper end of bracket 40 being journaled about the shaft 30,while the lower end is journaled upon the boss 42, concentric with thesprocket 38, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 9 and 19, said boss 42being provided with ears 43, being employed to maintain the bracket inplace, the said brackets having openings 44, through which the ears 43may be passed, so as to effect the removal of said bracket whenrequired. Obviously as the elevator is raisedand lowered the lower endof the bracket 40 will be correspondingly raised and lowered, wherebythe wheels 39 39 will be moved to accommodate themselves to the chain 37as the sprocket-wheel 38 approaches or recedes from the wheel 35.

As hitherto stated, the sprocket-wheel 38 is the direct cause of theoperation of the pickers, strippers, and cleaners, the shaft 45 directlyoperating the picking mechanism, as will be specified, the sprocket-gear46 upon said shaft 45 operating the sprocket-chain 47, that in turnrotates the sprocket-gear 48, mounted upon a shaft 49, upon which shaftare fixed the strippers 50. Where cleaners are employed, the shaft 49may have mounted thereon a sprocket-wheel 51, that operates thesprocket-chain 52, which sprocket-chain causes the rotation of asprocket-wheel 53, fixed upon a shaft 54, upon which shaft are alsofixed cleaning elements in the form of wheels, one for eachstripping-cylinder slot. The cotton that is picked and cleaned is passedthrough an opening 56 into the basket below the opening.

- I will now more particularly describe the mechanism within theelevator. Rotating end plates 58 59(very clearly shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8,and 9) are fast upon the shaft45. Pickercolumns 60 are interposedbetween the end plates 58 59, said columns having reductionsconstituting journals 61, that pass through the plate 59, and journals62, that pass through the plate 58, whereby the said columns aresupported horizontally between the end plates and are caused to movebodily with the said end plates. Each column contains a shaft 63, asindicated most clearly in Fig. 13, each of said shafts havingbevel-gears 64 fixed thereon, one for each cotton-picking finger 65, thesaid cotton-picking fingers passing through bosses 66, projecting fromthe column. The inner ends of the cotton-picking fingers are eachprovided with a bevel gear 67 fixed thereupon, the gears 67 and 64meshing, whereby a rotation of the shaft 63 is accompanied by a rotationof each of the pickingiingers about its own axis. The spur pinion orgear 68 is fast upon the shaft 63 and is adapted for intermittent(though in this case indirect) connection with the segmental rack 69,that is preferably stationarily mounted, this rack being so positionedthat the pinions 68 are connected therewith just before thepicking-fingers are thrust between the bars of the substantiallyhorizontal grate 8, and so that the pinion 68 will part company withsaid segmental rack just after the pick- Lil ing-fingers are withdrawnfrom the cottonbnshes, such connectioi'i of the pinion G8 with thesegmental raclt and diseugagement from said segmental rack beingaccomplished by the bodily movement of the piclter-columns with therotating end plates 5h In order that the picking-lingers may not berotated when they are not in connection ith the segmental raclt, Iprovide a delay gear il that is concentric with the segmental rack 69and which affords a smooth peripheral track with which the blocks 71 areadapted to be engaged, said blocks 71 being so mechanically related, aswill be specified, with respect to the shaft 63 that said shafts cannotbe rotated during the engagement of the elements T0 T1. The mechanicalrelation of the said block T1 with the shaft 6?) and the precise gearingconnection between the segmental rack (59 and said shaft *3 will now bespecified. The rotating end plate 58 carries a series of bearings 79,projecting inwardly toward the companion plate 59, as will be mostclearly seen by reference to Fig. 9, each of said hearings T2 having ashaft 73, upon the outer ends of each of which shafts a pinion T4. isfixed, which is the pinion that directly engages the segmental rack 60.Each shaft 73 has also a second pinion T5 fixed thereupon, each pinion7s engagingtwo pinionsota, whereby there are twice as many pinions (asand twice as many picker-columns as there are gears 73 and as there aregears it. Each shaft T3, in addition to having the pinionsH and T5 fixedthereupon, also has the block 71 fixed thereupon, which bloclt byengaging the delay-gear serves temporarily to prevent the rotation ofthe gears or pinions H To, and consequently prevents the rotation of thegears or pinions es and their associate picking-lingers 6-3. erablyprojected downwardly as they pass through the strippers. The gearings H,75, and as enable me to secure a very high rate of rotation of thepicking-fingers about their own axes without the employment of a largesegmental raclt (if), by which mechanism Iam j enabled to secure a verycompact construction l that may be contained within a small space, thusenabling me to construct a machine of comparatively small dimensions. Ihave thus described the my in which the rotation of the picking-lingersabout their axes is accomplished and how such rotation is caused tocease. ft is desirable to thrust the pickingfingers into the bushes andwithdraw them from the bushes in substantially vertical directions, thisbeing particularly the case in the machine illustrated, as I cause thebodily movement of the picker-columns at such a rate of speed that asthe picltirig-lingers are being thrust into the bushes and are beingwithdrawn therefrom there is comparativelv little bodily forwardmovementof the lingers thus placed in the bushes with respect to saidThe barbs of the fingers are prefbushes. It is also desirable to havethe pickingfingers occupy definite positions when the cotton is beingstripped therefrom and to have the said picking lingers graduallybrought to the positions they are to occupy with reference to thestripping mechanism. To the end that the pieltifig-lingers may ocrupythe prop r directions with respect to the plants into whicll they arebeing thrust and from which they are being withdrawn and to the furtherend that the said pickingfingers may occupy desirable positions withrespect to the stripping mechanism and may be gradually brought intosuch positions 1 provide cam mechanism, preferaldy of the constructionillustrated, which cam mechanism includes cam-rollers 76 upon the freeends of the gooseneclts TT and a cam-groove 78, mounted upon a plate T9,that is stationary, this cam-groove being preferably of the shapeindicated clearly in Fig. 6, whereby the picking-fingers are caused toassume the various positions illustrated, the said gooseneclts being forthe purpose rigid with respect to the picker-columns. The cam'groove isdesirably so constructed that it will act suddenly and to bring thepicking-lingers as they are brought into operative association with thestripping mechanism each into a position where it will lie substantiallymidway between the bases and the apexes of the strip])ing-teeth, wherebythe cotton may most readily and effectively be stripped from thepicltii'ig-lingers and fall into the pockets provided by thestrippingteeth. The cam is preferably also so constructed that eachpicking-linger as it is being stripped is maintained in the position inwhich it is placed until two stripping-teeth have passed over thepicking-finger, whereupon the cam causes a removal of the picltinglingerfrom operative association with the stripping-teeth, the strippinghaving been accomplished. The stripping mechanism so is one presentingcomparatively smooth stripping-surfaces to the picking-lingers, (bywhich l mean surfaces that are free of stripping barbs or bristles,)though in all embodiments of my invention 1 do not wish to be limitedto-such a construction, though I have been able to secure the bestresults therewith. The stripping mechanism of) is preferably in the formof a slotted cylinder. info the slots 81 Fig.1"), of which thepicking-lingers are inserted, the said cylinder l :ing desirablyrotated, while, the picking-lingers are bodily moved so that the cottonmay be most effectively stripped from the picking-fingers, such rotationof the stripping mechanism being accomplished,

as hitherto stated, through the agency of the gearing 4:6 as and thechain LT. The stripping-cylinder is preferably formed by the assemblageof a plurality of toothed whe ls which are rotated together, and bymeans of the gearing illustrated and described, in a direction similarto the direction of rotation of the picking-cylinder, (which is made upof the rotating end plates and the picker-columns between the same.) Thefront faces 81 of the teeth and the rear faces 82 lie on chords of thecircles circumscribing the wheels composing the stripping mechanism. Bymeans of the cam mechanism hitherto specified and the position of thestripping mechanism with reference to the cotton-picking fingers thefront faces 81 of the teeth are inclined to the picking-fingers tosecure the most effective results in stripping the cotton therefrom. Thediameter of the stripping-cylinder and the rate of rotation thereof withreference to the rate of rotation of the picking-cylinder is such thatpreferably two teeth have stripping action upon each finger, the cottonbeing thus gathered in the pockets formed between the stripping-surfacesof the teeth and the opposed teeth-surfaces, the cotton readily beingdischarged from the said cylinder-pockets through the opening 56 intothe waiting basket 3. In case any cotton should remain in the stripperthe cleaning wheel or mechanism is employed, that desirably has teeth83, that pass into the cleaning-cylinder slots to engage and remove suchcotton. The stripping mechanism that I have provided eliminatesdisadvantages and objectionable characteristics that hitherto havecontributed so largely to the practical inoperativeness ofcotton-picking machines, and the importance of the invention that I haveherein disclosed will be most readily appreciated and understood bythose skilled in the art.

The stripper operates at a comparatively high rate of speed, and inorder that the momentum of the stripper occasioned by any suddenstoppage of the machinery will not do harm I provide aclutch 84, whichpermits a continuation of the rotation of the stripper after the othermechanism has ceased operation.

The porches 2 and 4t and the curtain 3 cooperate properly to guide thecotton into the basket 3. The cleaner 55, operating at a high rate ofspeed, thrusts the cotton from the stripper 50 through the opening 56,and as this cotton is thrown with considerable force the porch 4L andthe curtain 3 become very serviceable, the porch a for this purposepreferably aifording a continuous deflecting-surface, though the porch 2need only serve the function of a support for the basket 3. The cleaneris a very important feature of my invention as embodied in the machineset forth in this application, as it effectively conveys the cotton fromthe stripper to the cotton-receptacle.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 7, the longitudinal braces85 86 on one side of the machine are united by the vertical braces 8788, and on the other side of the machine the longitudinal braces 89 90are united by the vertical braces 91 92. In order that the frames justdescribed may not diamond,

the cam-grooved element 78 is mechanically united with the bracing-plate79, having lugs 94 secured to the longitudinal brace 86 and lugs 95united with the longitudinal brace 85, while the operatingsegmental rackis mounted upon a plate 96, that is provided with lugs 97, fastened tothe longitudinal brace 90, and lugs 98, fastened to the longitudinalbrace 89, the plates 79 96 performing the double function of bracing theframework of the machine and of supporting the mechanism that effectsthe operation of the pickers and adjusts the angles of thepickingfingers.

The end plates that support the picker-columns together act as a carrierfor the picking-fingers. By means of the cam mechanism the angularpositions of the fingers with reference to their carriers are varied forthe purpose of properly directing the picking-fingers into the plants,withdrawing the fingers therefrom, and presenting the picking-fingers toand withdrawing them from the stripping mechanism.

In the machine that I have organized, and which has produced mostexcellent results in the field, the speed of rotation of thestrippingcylinder is two and one-half times the speed of.

rotation of the picking-cylinder. The speed of rotation of the cleaningcylinder or device is four times the speed of the stripping-cylinder,whereby each longitudinal group of teeth upon the cleaner cooperateswith a longitudinal group of teeth upon the stripper to effect thedischarge of the cotton from the stripper through the opening 56 to thecotton-receptacle. The cleaner is so mounted with reference to thestripper that the points of the cleaner begin the cleaning operation atthe bases of the teeth of the stripper, the faces of the stripping-teeththat support the cotton thus cooperating with the cleaning-teeth todefine the angle at which the cotton is discharged, which angle is suchthat the cotton is properly directed through the opening 56 to thebasket. I

I have in some of the claims used the term sets of picking-fingers,having in such claims particularly referred to the constructionillustrated in Fig. 21, wherein each set includes two picking-fingers ortwo groups of picking-fingers operated by a common driving-pinion 75.

I do not wish to be limited to the precise mechanism for adjusting thegrate, as any other suitable mechanism may be moved instead of theelevator mechanism for this purpose.

I prefer to have the front end of the grate lower than the rear, so thatas the machine advances the cotton-plants are relieved as the gratepasses over the same, whereby the pick: ing-fingers as they are drawnfrom the plants have less tendency to strip the leaves and green bollsfrom the plants. This depression of the forward end of the machine alsodepresses the front ends of theskirtorgatherer that act as a prow toelevate the ouhvardlvexlending lu'anches to gather the entire plantswithin the space hetween thesides of theskirt.

\Yhile the vertical :uljustnient for the horizontal grate renders themachine particularly serviceahle for plants of differing heights. thereare other features in cminection with the vertical adjustment of themechanism. For instance. it is desirable to elevate the skirts and gratein order to clear the plants and the ground in turning from one row ofcotton to another. In other cases the ridges on which the cotton growsvary in height by reason of cultivation. on which account the verticaladjustahility of the grate and associate mechanism is of particularimportance.

The advantages of my presentmachine over a machine in which verticalgrate-hars are employed will he apparent. .In the machine of myinvention the picking-lingers may he most closely approached to theground and. in fact. in some instances are thrust into the groundpreferahly. for hy placing the fingers in this close proximity to theground the thickest growth of cotton is encountered. and frequentlycotton which has fallen otl' and resting upon the ground is picked up.The picking-lingers of other machines that move in horizontal planescannot he practically operated so close to the ground.

here the cotton-branches lie very close to the ground. it may hedesirahle to have the skirts extend to the same plane touched hy thepoints of the picking-lingers that are moved farthest toward the ground.for which purpose the supplemental skirt port-ions A (indicated indotted lines in Fig. 2) may he added. The outer picking-tingers hy lyingnext to the skirts tintl resistance in the skirts.

wherehy the cotton as it is being picked is tend suhstantially parallelwith this direction of hodily movement of the picking-tingers.

It will he seen that the teeth of the stripper that l preferahly use areplaced upon the 1 peripheries of a plurality of wheels which areassemhled to constitute a cylinder. In other i l stantially horizontalgrate fordepressing the words. the stripper is in the form of a slottedcylinder that is peripherally toothed. Since this cylinderisperipherally toothed. the teeth thereof project radially of thecylinder. The teeth of the stripper thus preferably extend in the planeof movement of the stripper.

termining the position of the horizontal grate As indicated. the grateis normally substantially stationary with respect to the vehicle.

While I have particularly specilied the preferred elnhodinient of myinvention and one that has heen successfully operated in the lields, Ido not wish to he limited to the precise construction shown, asmodilications may readily he made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention; hut,

l-Iaving thus descrihed my invention. 1 claim as new and desire tosecure hy Letters Patent- 'l. A cotton-harvesting machine including aplurality of picking-lingers mounted upon a traveling carrier. rotatingstripping mechanism composed of a plurality of toothed wheels,

and a rotating cleaning mechanism having a plurality ofsets of teethtoward which the cotton is conveyed by the stripping mechanism antl fromwhich the cotton isdischarged, suhstantially as descrihed.

A cotton-liarvesting machine including a plurality of pickinglingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, rotating stripping mechanism composedof a pluralitv of toothed wheels. a rotating cleaning mechanism having aplurality of setsof teeth toward which the cotton is conveyed hy thestripping mechanism and from which the cotton isdischarged. andmechanism for varying the angular positions of said lingers withreference to their carrier, suhstantially as descrihod.

33. A cotton-liarvesting machine including a plurality ofpicking-lingers mounted upon a traveling carrier. rotating strippingmechanism composed of a pluralityof toothed wheels. a rotating cleaningmechanism having a plurality of sets of teeth toward which the cotton isconveyed hy the stripping mechanism and from which the cotton isdischarged, mechanism for varying the angular positions of said lingerswith reference to their carrier, mechanism for effecting the rotation ofsaid picking-fingers about their own axes, and mechanism for checkingthe rotation of said lingers when the stripping mechanism operatesthereon. snhstantially as descrihed.

t. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-lingersmounted upon a traveling carrier. rotating stripping mechanism composedof a plurality of toothed wheels, a rotating cleaning mechanism having aplurality of sets of teeth toward which the cotton is conveyed hy thestripping mechanism and from which the cotton is discharged, andasuhcotton-plants, hetween the hars of which grate the lingers project.suhstantially as descrihed.

A cotton-harvcsting machine including a plurality of picking-lingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, rotatingstripping mechan The ad ustingmeans that I show for deis preferred: hutl do not desire to he limitedthereto.

ism composed of a plurality of toothed wheels, a rotating cleaningmechanism having a plurality of sets of teeth toward which the cotton isctmveyed hy the stripping mechanism and from which the cotton isdischarged, mechanism for varying the angular positions of said fingerswith reference to their carrier, and a substantially horizontal gratefor depressing the cotton-plants, between the bars of which gratethe'fingers project, substantially as described.

6 A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-lingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, rotatingstripping mechanism composedof a plurality of toothed wheels, a rotating cleaning mechanism having aplurality of sets of teeth toward which the cotton is conveyed by thestripping mechanism and from which the cotton discharged, mechanism forarying the angular positions of said fingers with reference to theircarrier, mechanism for etfecting the rotation of said pickingfingersabout their own axes, mechanism for checking the rotation of saidfingers when the stripping mechanism operates thereon, and asubstantially horizontal grate for depressing the cotton-plants, betweenthe bars of which grate the fingers project, substantially as described.

7. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-fingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, rotating stripping mechanism composedof a plurality of toothed wheels, a rotating cleaning mechanism having aplurality of sets of teeth toward which the cotton is conveyed by thestripping mechanism and from which the cotton is discharged, asubstantially horizontal grate for depressing the cotton-plants, betweenthe bars of which grate the fingers project, and an apron in front ofthe grate for gradually depressing the plants toward the level of thegrate, substantially as described.

8. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-lingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, rotating stripping mechanism composedof a plu ality of toothed wheels, a rotating cleaning mechanism having apinrality of sets of teeth toward which the cotton is conveyed by thestripping mechanism and from which the cotton is discharged, mechanismfor-varying the angular positions of said lingers with reference totheir carrier, a sul stantially horizontal grate for depressing thecotton-plants, between the bars of which grate the fingers project, andan apron in front of the grate for gradualiy depressing the plantstoward the level of the grate, substantially as described.

9. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-fingersmounte l upon a traveling carrier, rotating stripping mechanism composedof a plurality of toothed wheels, a rotating cleaning mechanism having aplurality of sets of teeth toward which the cotton is conveyed by thestripping mechanism and from which the cotton is discharged, mechanismfor varying the angular positions of said fingers with reference totheir carrier, mechanism for etfectingthe rotation of saidpickingfingers about their own axes, mechanism for checking the rotationof said fingers when the stripping mechanism operates thereon, asubstantially horizontal grate for depressing the cotton-plants, betweenthe bars of which grate the fingers project, and an apron in front ofthe grate for gradually depressing the plants toward the level of thegrate, substantially as described. 7

10. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-fingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, rotating stripping mechanism composedof a plurality of toothed wheels, a rotating cleaning mechanism having aplurality of obs of teeth toward which the cotton is conveyed by thestripping mechanism and from which the cotton is discharged, asubstantially horizontal grate for depressing the cotton-plants,betweenthe bars of which grate the fingers project, an apron in front ofthe grate for gradually depressing the plants toward the level of thegrate, and skirts along the sides of the grate and depending below thesame for gathering the branches of the plants laterally, substantiallyas described.

11. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-fingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, rotating stripping mechanism composedof a plurality of toothed wheels, a rotating cleaning mechanism having aplurality of sets of teeth toward which the cotton is conveyed by thestripping mechanism and from which the cotton is discharged, mechanismfor varying the angular positions of said fingers with reference totheir carrier, a substantially horizontal grate for depressing thecotton-plants, between the bars of which grate the lingers project, anapron in front of the grate for gradually depressing the plants towardthe level of the grate, and skirts along the sides of the grate anddepending below the same for gathering the branches of the plantslaterally, substantially as described.

12. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-fingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, rotating stripping mechanism composedof a plurality of toothed wheels,

a rotating cleaning mechanism having a plurality of sets of teeth towardwhich the cotton is conveyed by the stripping mechanism and from whichthe cotton is discharged, mechanism for varying the angular positions ofsaid fingers with reference to their carrier, mechanism for effectingthe rotation of said picking-fingers about their own axes, mechanism forchecking the rotation of said fingers when the stripping mechanismoperates thereon, a substantially horizontal grate for depressing thecotton-plants, between the bars of which grate the fingers project, anapron in front of the grate for gradually depressing.

the plants toward the level of the'grate, and skirts along the sides ofthe grate and depending below the same for gathering the branches of theplants laterally, substantially as described.

13. A cotton-harvesting machine including framework comprising two setsof frame elements, one upon each side of the machine, each frame elementincluding two longitudinal braces and two transverse or vertical bracesuniting the longitudinal braces, picking mechanism, supports thereforcarrying mechanism for controlling the operation of the pickingmechanism, said supports being united with the said longitudinal bracesone support being located on each side of the machine for thispurpose,whereby said frame elements are prevented from collapsing,substantially as described.

1 1. A cotton-harvesting machine including pickinglingers travelingbodily longitudinally of the vehicle, a substantially horizontal gratenormally stationary with respect to the vehicle, between the bars ofwhich the picking-fingers project downwardly, and which is provided forand adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants into position to beengaged by the picking-fingers, an apron projecting from the forward endof the grate for depressing the plants toward the level of the grate,and a skirt depending from the longitudinal sides of the grate forgathering the cotton-plants laterally, substantially as described.

15. A cotton-harvesting machine including pickingfingers travelingbodily longitudinally of the vehicle, a substantially horizontal gratenormally stationary with respect to the vehicle, between the bars ofwhich the picking-lingers project downwardly, and which is provided forand adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants into position to beengaged by the picking-fingers, and an apron projecting from the forwardend of the grate for depressing the plants toward the level of thegrate, substantially as described.

16. A cotton-harvesting machine including picking-fingers travelingbodily longitudinally of the vehicle, a substantially horizontal gratenormally stationary with respect to the vehicle, between the bars ofwhich the picking-fingers project downwardly, and which is provided forand adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants into position to beengaged by the picking-fingers, and a skirt depending from thelongitudinal sides of the grate for gathering the cotton-plantslaterally, substantially as described.

17 A cotton-harvesting machine including picking-fingers travelingbodily longitudinally of the vehicle and a substantially horizontalgrate normally stationary with respect to the vehicle, between the barsof which the pickingfingers project downwardly, and which is providedfor and adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants into position tobe engaged by the picking-fingers, substantially as described.

18. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-lingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, a substantially horizontal grate,between the bars of which the pickingfingers project, and which isprovided for and adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants intoposition to be engaged by the pickingfingers, an apron projecting fromthe forward end of the grate for depressing the plants toward the levelof the grate, a skirt depending from the longitudinal sides of the gratefor gathering the cotton-plants laterally, and mechanism for varying theangular positions of said fingers with reference to their carrier todefine the direction in which the lingers are to be inserted within theplants, substantially as described.

19. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-fingersmount-ed upon a traveling carrier, at substantially horizontal grate,between the bars of which the pickingfingers project, and which isprovided for and adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants intoposition to be engaged by the picking-fingers, an apron projecting fromthe forward end of the grate for depressing the plants toward the levelof the grate, and mechanism for varying the angular positions of saidlingers with reference to their carrier to define the direction in whichthe fingers are to be inserted within the plants, substantially asdescribed.

20. A cotton-harvesting machineincluding a plurality of picking-fingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, at substantially horizontal grate,between the bars of which the pickingfingers project, and which isprovided for and adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants intoposition to be engaged by the picking-fingers, a skirt depending fromthe longitudinal sides of the grate for gathering the cotton-plantslaterally, and mechanism for varying the angular positions of saidlingers with reference to their carrier to define the direction in whichthe lingers are to be inserted within the plants, substantially asdescribed.

21. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-lingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, a substantially horizontal grate,between the bars of which the pickingfingers project, and which isprovided for and adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants intoposition to be engaged by the pickinglingcrs, and mechanism for varyingthe angular positions of said lingers with reference to their carrier todefine the direction in which the fingers are to be inserted within theplants, substantially as described.

22. A cotton-harvesting machine including pickinglingers travelingbodily longitudinally of the vehicle, a traveling carrier therefor, asubstantially horizontal grate normally stationary with respect to thevehicle, between the bars of which the picking-fingers projectdownwardly, and which is provided for and adapted to the purpose ofpressing the plants into position to be engaged by the picking-fingers,an apron projecting from the forward end of the grate for depressing theplants toward the level of the grate, a skirt depending from thelongitudinal sides of the grate for gathering the cotton-plantslaterally, and mechanism for effecting the rotation of the fingers abouttheir own axes, substantially as described.

23. A cotton-harvesting machine including pickingfingers travelingbodily longitudinally of the vehicle, a traveling carrier therefor, asubstantially horizontal grate normally stationary with respect to thevehicle, between the bars of which the picking-fingers projectdownwardly, and which is provided for and adapted to the purpose ofpressing the plants into position to be engaged by the picking-fingers,an apron projecting from the forward end of the grate for depressing theplants toward the level of the grate, and mechanism for effecting therotation of the fingers about their own aXes, substantially asdescribed.

24. A cotton-harvesting machine including picking fingers travelingbodily longitudinally of the vehicle, a traveling carrier therefor, asubstantially horizontal grate normally stationary with respect to thevehicle, between the bars of which the picking-fingers projectdownwardly, and which is provided for and adapted to the purpose ofpressing the plants into position to be engaged by the picking-fingers,a skirt depending from the longitudinal sides of the grate for gatheringthe cottonplants laterally, and mechanism for effecting the rotation ofthe fingers about their own axes, substantially as described.

25. A cotton-harvesting machine including picking-fingers travelingbodily longitudinally of the vehicle, a traveling carrier therefor, asubstantially horizontal grate normally stationary with respect to thevehicle, between the bars of which the picking-fingers projectdownwardly, and which is provided for and adapted to the purpose ofpressing the plants into position to be engaged by the picking-lingers,and mechanism for effecting the rotation of the fingers about their ownaxes, substantially as described.

26. 'A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality ofpicking-fingers mounted upon a traveling carrier, a substantiallyhorizontal grate, between the bars of which the pickingfingers project,and which is provided for and adapted to the purpose of pressing theplants into position to be engaged by the pickingfingers, an apronprojecting from the forward end of the grate for depressing the plantstoward the level of the grate, a skirt depending from the longitudinalsides of the grate for gathering the cotton-plants laterally, mechanismfor varying the angular positions of said fingers with reference totheir carrier to define the direction in which the fingers are to beinserted within the plants, and mechanism for effecting the rotation ofthe fingers about their own axes, substantially as described.

27.' A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality ofpicking-fingers mounted upon a traveling carrier, a substantiallyhorizontal grate, between the bars of which the pickingfingers project,and which is provided for and adapted to the purpose of pressing theplants into position to be engaged by the pickingfingers, an apronprojecting from the forward end of the grate for depressing the plantstoward the level of the grate, mechanism for varying the angularpositions of said fingers with reference to their carrier to define thedirection in which the fingers are to be inserted within the plants, andmechanism for efiecting the rotation of the fingers about their ownaxes, substantially as described.

28. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-fingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, a substantially horizontal grate,between the bars of which the pickingfingers project, and which isprovided for and adapted to the purpose of pressing the plants intoposition to be engaged by the pickingfingers, a skirt depending from thelongitudinal sides of the grate for gathering the cottonplantslaterally, mechanism for varying the angular positions of said fingerswith reference to their carrier to define the direction in which thefingers are to be inserted within the plants, and mechanism foreffecting the rotation of the fingers about their own axes,substantially as described.

29. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of.picking-fingers mounted upon a traveling carrier, a substantiallyhorizontal grate, between the bars of which the pickingfingers project,and which is provided for and adapted to the purpose of pressing theplants into position to be engaged by the pickingfingers, mechanism forvarying the angular positions of said fingers with reference to theircarrier to define the direction in which the fingers are to be insertedWithin the plants, and mechanism for effecting the rotation of thefingersabout their own axes, substantially as described.

80. A cotton-harvesting machine having a housing including two porches,one above the other, each adapted to carry a basket, the

basket upon the lower porch serving to receive the cotton, mechanism forthrowing the cotton after it is picked into the lower basket, and acurtain placed about the lower basket, the said curtain cooperating withthe upper porch to direct and confine the cotton in its travel towardthe lower basket, substantially as described.

31. A cotton-harvesting machine including a plurality of picking-fingersmounted upon a traveling carrier, mechanism for varying the

